Workers at Tara Mines have been placed under protective notice by the company after a strike by members of SIPTU went ahead yesterday.
Talks aimed at resolving the dispute over the use of contract miners continued right through Thursday night but broke up without agreement at 8.30 a.m. The union blamed management for introducing unacceptable conditions, but the company said SIPTU had mounted pickets even before the talks ended.
A union spokesman, Mr Mike Jennings, expressed optimism that negotiations would resume over the weekend. In the meantime, pickets are again expected to be in place at the Co Meath mines today. Contract workers refused to pass the picket line yesterday.
The company said it was "extremely disappointed that this action has been taken despite the progress made" in talks and advised employees that from Monday employment would be on a day-to-day basis.
The dispute centres on the interpretation of an agreement between management and staff last February, which acknowledged the shortage of skilled miners and allowed for the use of contractors from overseas while permanent staff were trained.
Miners from Australia and Canada were hired, but the dispute arose in October when the company brought in more contractors from Norway. SIPTU accused the company of inadequate training programmes and of adding to rather than phasing out the use of contract miners.
The company says it is not in breach of the February deal, that the September 30th deadline for the withdrawal of contract workers had not been met "for a variety of reasons", but particularly the continuing shortage of skilled labour.
